801-810 Carros de Boi

By 1938 the old 2-axle open cars had been replaced by new 2-axle Standard cars. The São Luís cars had been reconditioned about ten years before. This meant that the oldest cars in service were all 4-axle electric trams and the open cross-bench trailers. Likely Carris wanted to execute a renewal program similar to what was done when producing the 2-axle Standard cars: replacing the old 4-axle cars by new ones with the use of reconditioned bogies and motors, and also building complete new 4-axle cars to extend the fleet and perhaps also to replace the cross-bench trailers. Carris designed a new type of bogie tramcar with domed roofs, flush sides, rounded ends with large platforms and driver cabins. They got the nickname “Carros de Boi” (Ox cars)

Carris museum tram no.802 during the annual parade of 21 September 2024 in Rua da Junqueira.

In 1939 five 4-axle trams were built to this design with Maley & Taunton equal-wheel bogies, Metrovick MV109 25-hp motors and English Electric DB1 Form K33 controllers. These cars were numbered 801-805.

During World War II the English companies Maley & Taunton and Metrovick had other commitments and couldn’t provide more bogies and motors. This and the unsure circumstances hampered the production of more new tramcars. Only in 1943 five more of this type were built getting the numbers 806-810. They were completed with Brill 22E trucks, GE59 motors and GE K10 controllers from the stockpile. After the war another renewal program was made, resulting in the Caixote types.

Carris tram no.808 in Rua Dom Duarte on 28 June 1987

801 was withdrawn after an accident in 1983, but instead 802 was renumbered to 801. This tram went out of service in 1985 but kept for the museum. When the tram was restored into its original condition, it got its old number 802 again.

803-805 were since 1989 only on reserve and disposed until 1991. 806 was withdrawn in 1980 to provide trucks and equipment for crossbench museum car 283. 807-810 were withdrawn until 1994.

Carris tram no.804 on the premises of Arco do Cego depot, 7 July 1979. Photo J.J. Buckley.
Number801-805806-810
Overall length11.58 m11.58 m
Width2.38 m2.38 m
Weight15.9 t14.4 t
Seats3636
Standing2323
TruckM&T equal wheelBrill 22E
Motors4x MV109 25 hp2x GE59 25 hp
ControllersDB1K33GE K10
Wheel brakesmanual, air, electro
pneumatic, electro magnetic
manual, air, rheostatic
Track brakesn.a.n.a.
Carris tram no.808 in Rua da Junqueira, June 1993.


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